Interview Skills Workshop

2012-2013

Agenda

• Types of Interviews

• How to Prepare for an Interview

• The Interview Process

• Types of Interview Questions

• STAR Statements

• Tips for Success

The Job Interview

• Why do companies conduct interviews?

• What makes you nervous about interviews?

Types of Interviews

• 1 on 1

• Panel

• Group

• Presentation

• HR

• Sliding/Tandem

• Phone

• Assessment/Testing

Preparing for Interviews

• Review the job description

• Identify skills

• Know the job role and functions

• Research the company

• Practice your STAR stories

• Prepare follow up questions

• Familiarize yourself with market information

• Get your image ready

Stages of the Interview Process

1. Arrival and Introduction

2. Setting the Stage and Format

3. General Questions

4. Core Questions

5. Interviewee Questions

6. Closing and Goodbye

7. Post Interview Follow-up

Types of Interview Questions

• Behaviour Based

• Situational

• Motivational

• Technical

• Case Based

STAR Format

• Situation

• Task

• Action

• Result

Let’s Practice

• Pick a partner and practice using STAR when answering the following questions. Each person should have a turn

• Question #1: Tell me about a time you used your problem solving skills

• Question #2: Tell me about a time when you demonstrated leadership skills when working with a team

• Question #3: Tell me about a time when you demonstrated effective time management

Tips for Phone Interviews

• Use a landline or establish call back procedure

• NO speaker phone

• Sitting vs. standing

• Where are you taking the call?

• Dealing with an Accent

• One Sense to interact with

• Follow interviewer pace

Resources to Practice Interviewing

Interviewing On/Off Campus?

• On Campus Interviews

– will be notified by email through the Portal

– You must log onto the Portal to sign up for an interview time

– Know your interview location

• Off Campus Interviews

– Will be notified by the employer

– Give yourself adequate time to get to the location

Etiquette for the Interview

• Arrive 5 – 10 minutes early

• Bring a copy of your resume and transcript

• Dress similar to the people you are interviewing with

• Shake hands and be polite

• Follow the pace of the interviewer

• Come back to questions that you asked to skip

• Ask for a business card and follow up

• Thank the interviewer for their time

• Speak clearly

• BE PREPARED, CONFIDENT, and BE YOURSELF

Rotman Commerce Career Centre

• Career Centre Drop ins

• Roundtables (stream specific)

• Coaching appointments with a Relationship Manager (2 per semester)

What are your Questions?